My baby Fawn. This is something you'd catch her wearing in the time she came from.

Fawn's POV

I stepped out of the shower, steam pooling out after me. A content sigh left my lungs as I grabbed a towel.

I feel a little bit better after that, the water and overall relaxation aiding in calming my nerves.

Using the towel, I squeezed some of the water out of my hair before wrapping that same towel around my body.

From there I did the usual routine, brush hair, brush teeth, the whole nightly shabang.

After all of that, I figured by now Alastor would be back. He did say it shouldn't take too long, and my shower had to have lasted at least forty minutes on its own.

So, when I exited the bathroom to see a still empty bedroom, I was slightly surprised.

A little disappointed as well. I had hyped myself up in the shower, ready to have this chat with him. He seemed genuinely interested in hearing about what had me upset.

Shrugging to myself, I began to hum softly to myself as I went to pick out my night clothes.

Thumbing through my options, I stopped at a silken red pair that had white trim around the collar.

"Ooo..." I expressed my interest out loud, feeling the material under my fingers.

So soft.

Mine.

In no time at all I slipped the clothing over my body, enjoying the softness of the silk against my freshly showered skin.

Glancing at the door, I huffed slightly.

"Hurry it up, psycho..." I grumbled, just wanting him up here so we can lay down and talk.

But even my disgruntled words couldn't summon him from the depths of whatever torture chamber he keeps below his house.

Maybe he's making dinner...?

At that thought I perked up. That's probably it.

Exiting the room, I made my way towards the stairs. Then I passed a familiar door.

Secured tightly with an abundance of locks.

My steps ceased slowly, my eyes lingering on this door.

What does he keep in there...?

Curiosity bit at the back of my brain. When I'd first seen this door, I was scared of whatever may be in there, but now I'm just intrigued.

For a moment I contemplated if I could find the keys and check it out while he's downstairs. I could get in and out without him ever...

My lips pursed and I shook my head, turning to continue my original path.

I shouldn't. He asked me not to.

Soon enough, I was rounding the corner to the kitchen, entering with a greeting.

"Hey, Al, you in here–" I cut myself off when I was faced with an empty and dark kitchen.

I deflated with a huff.

Honestly, I don't know why I didn't piece it together the moment I couldn't smell anything cooking.

Well, I guess he's still downstairs...made more of a mess than he first thought, I suppose.

My next destination is the cellar.

I'm bored, and I want attention, so if he's going to take forever, I'll go to him.

Just as a took my first step, I realized...

I don't even know where the cellar is.

He has never shown me. Never told me. Never even mentioned it outside of "I'll be in the cellar".

So, there goes that plan. I could try to seek it out, but I don't feel like going on a hunt right now, so I'm just going to go upstairs and wait in boredom.

I hopped back up the stairs, preparing to go lay down and wait for him.

Then, once again I passed that door...

The hair on my arm prickled when I got near it, and the air chilled. Despite its ungodly creepiness, the door itself was alluring.

I felt almost like it was looking at me.

Calling to me.

For a moment I just stared at this door, the sound of what almost seemed like whispering surrounding me. I bit my lip, glancing around.

Still no sign of Al...

He wouldn't mind if I just...maybe...

My fingers made contact with the cool doorknob, and immediately I got shocked with static.

"Ow!" I yelped softly, pulling back and shaking my hand.

I glared at the stupid thing, once again reaching forward to grab it.

Right then, just before I could touch it, a hand shot from beside me and snatched my wrist.

I gasped softly, spinning to face him.

His eyes were wide, not a smile to be seen on his face. The hold he had on my wrist wasn't tight or uncomfortable, but it was firm.

"A-Al, I..." I glanced between him and the door, the whispering suddenly having faded away, leaving me to stand slightly confused.

My eyes narrowed a bit as I tried to figure out why I wanted to open that door so badly.

"What are you doing? I told you this room was off limits, did I not?" He said, his voice sounding almost panicked and a bit angry.

I shook my head, looking back towards him, "Al, I don't know...I didn't...I don't know why I..." my words were failing me as I tried desperately to explain what happened without sounding completely insane.

The longer I stumbled over my words, the softer his look became.

He let go of my wrist and brought his hand up to my face, touching me gently as he caressed my cheek.

"Breathe...dear, you're alright, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to snap at you, but this room is extremely dangerous...I need you to promise me to never ever go near it or try to open it again...please..."

His words silenced me, my eyes slightly widened as I looked up at his near desperate expression.

What the fuck is behind that door?

The event rattled me enough to where I just kind of blinked and nodded, "o-ok...yea I...I won't, I'm really sorry it just, the door..." again my words fell off and my eyes dropped to the floor.

There is no way for me to tell him what happened without sounding crazy. I felt almost drawn to this door, like it was offering me something so sweet that I couldn't resist, I just didn't know what it was yet.

"The door...what?" He pressed me gently, pulling my head back up with his finger under my chin.

I kept my lips sealed tight for a second longer, but his intense gaze had me caving before I could stop myself.

"It talked to me..." I whispered.

He froze, his eyes going wide. I swear I even saw a bit of fear behind them before it was replaced with anger.

I panicked, backtracking immediately.

"I-I mean...I was probably just imagining it! I am pretty tired...so I just—"

"What did they say?" He asked, his voice having turned dark as well as his eyes.

That's when the first ripple of fear showed itself inside me.

Suddenly, I was acutely aware of just how little I know about this man in front of me...

Nonetheless, I answered him.

"N-nothing, nothing really, I promise, it was just whispering...but it was like they were telling me to open the door, I..." I shut my eyes and tried to think about a way to describe it that would make sense.

"You were drawn in..." he finished for me, whispering under his breath as if he weren't even speaking to me.

I don't think he was...

His eyebrows were furrowed, eyes pointed down as he seemed to be in deep thought.

This is how he stayed for at least a minute, his thumb gently brushing over my cheek mindlessly and repetitively.

Finally, I decided maybe I should say something.

Reaching up, my hand shook slightly and he spotted me, blinking as he finally brought his gaze back up to mine.

He glanced from my eyes to my hand, and then I made contact with his cheek.

Returning the gesture he was giving to me, although my movements were a bit shaky.

"I'm sorry..." I uttered pitifully, admittedly just a little scared.

I've seen Al angry.

I've seen what he can do.

Those words seemed to snap him out of whatever thought bubble he'd trapped himself inside, and he brought his other hand up to my face.

"Don't apologize dear, it's not your fault..." he mumbled, pulling my head into his chest before he wrapped me in a hug, "but I need you to swear to me that you will not step foot near this door again...if you hear anything else coming from it, ignore it, and if you feel like you can't, call out for me," he said, running his fingers down my back.

None of that eased my nerves at all. I don't understand why he can't just tell me what's inside, then I'd know why it's so dangerous.

"What's in there...?" I whispered against his chest, his scent surrounding me.

Although, it was clouded with a bit of what smelled like ammonia.

He hesitated, his fingers pausing their movements against my back before he took a deep breath.

"Don't concern yourself with that, cher...it's better you don't know," he mumbled.

This irked me slightly.

Pushing away from him, I looked up at him with a deep frown. He looked a little shocked, but I didn't care.

How is that fair?

"How is it fair that you get to keep things from me and then force me to tell you everything? What's behind the door?" I pressed harder, my voice firm.

At my challenge, my tone of voice, he immediately hardened his features.

"Do not raise your voice at me," he spoke calmly, though there was a thinly veiled threat there.

My frown deepened, my arms that I'd crossed over my chest falling to my sides.

I looked at him a moment longer. The look he was giving me reminds me just a bit of how he looks at anyone else outside these walls.

Cold.

I scoffed, shaking my head before I just turned around and walked away. Yelling at him won't get me anywhere, and I have a feeling that me just asking him calmly won't either.

He was silent as I walked away, but I felt the shift in the air. The confusion.

I made it to the stairs, beginning to descend, and he finally called out to me.

"Fawn?"

His voice was softened, sounding perplexed, and I ignored him.

If he's not going to open up to me, to trust me...then I'm not going to give that to him either.

My eyebrows pulled together as I thought about last night...if he trusted me enough then, why doesn't he trust me now? Why is he keeping things from me, especially something that's so "dangerous" as he put it.

I made it to the bottom of the stairs, and his steps followed me like a lost puppy.

"Fawn?" He called again, but again I ignored him.

I'm not mad...I won't say I'm angry with him, because I'm not. I don't care about him any less, but it's almost like he doesn't understand that I have feelings, and by keeping this from me he is hurting those feelings.

And betraying my trust.

Because...what else is he hiding? Just how much do I not know?

And I slept with him...should I have shared that with someone who won't even tell me what's behind a stupid door?

I was heading for the door, ready to take a walk and clear my head for a bit. There's still a little bit of sunlight out, so I should have time—

A hand on my shoulder made me tense, and I stopped.

"Fawn, will you look at me, please?"

His tone now was desperate, the polar opposite of the one he had used prior.

My throat felt tight, and I shook my head.

"I don't want to look at you right now." I said, my tone clipped and short.

His hand on my shoulder tightened its grip slightly, again, not painfully...but firm...

But I have a feeling this time it was just because he doesn't want me to walk out that door.

It was quiet for a second, neither of us talking. My hand was resting on the front door handle.

"Please..."

My eyes widened when his voice...cracked.

The breath caught in my throat, and slowly my fingers slipped away from the door handle.

Without a second thought, I turned to face him. That hard look in his eyes was gone, replaced by a misty, hurt confusion.

He kept one hand on me, holding onto me like I'd sprint away from him if he let me go.

My own hurt feelings were dampened with concern at the utterly broken look in his eyes.

I was a bit confused, myself, at why he's so upset right now. All I was doing was going to cool down for a second so we could talk about this normally.

"Please don't leave me...I'm sorry...don't go..."

Again his voice cracked slightly, his misty eyes slowly turning glossy.

I realized then...why he's so upset...

"Oh, Alastor..." I mumbled softly, reaching up to run my fingers through his hair. I rested my hand on his cheek and he basically melted into my touch.

"I was just going to cool off for a second...I'm not leaving you, silly goose..." I said lightly.

I felt bad now...having been completely unaware that he would've even considered that to be an option for what I was going to do.

Reminding me that I'm not the only one with feelings...

At my words he visibly relaxed, smiling as his eyes closed and he laughed softly.

Before I knew it, I was against his chest again as he hugged me tightly.

"Good god woman...you're going to give me a heart attack..." he mumbled against the top of my head.

I wrapped my arms up around him, sighing deeply before I let myself relax against his chest.

He was petting my head, running his fingers down through my hair. I let him hold me for a second, still feeling a bit guilty for how I'd just walked away from him.

I guess this has been learning experience for both of us.

"Will you say it again...tell me again..." he whispered into my hair before placing down a soft kiss.

I furrowed my brows slightly in confusion, opening my mouth to ask him what he means. Then I froze, my face growing a bit hot when I realized...

"I love you..." I spoke into his chest, my words slightly muffled. Though, the moment I said them he took a deep breath and hugged me tighter.

Never would I have taken Alastor for a man who needed reassurance...but even though I know him better than most people, I still have so much more to learn.

A moment longer of him hugging me, and finally he let me go, keeping his hands on my arms as he looked down at me.

"I apologize for the way I spoke to you...forgive me, please..." he said softly.

I nodded, being reminded of why we were even doing this in the first place.

"I forgive you, Al, and I'm sorry, too...but I need you to be honest if you want the same from me..." I said, my lips set into a relaxed frown.

I'm still not very happy with him.

A look crossed his face, and his smile almost slipped as he cringed slightly. Then, he shut his eyes and sighed, shaking his head.

"My darling...Fawn...I can't tell you what's behind that door, but it's not because I want to keep it from you..." he started, and then opened his eyes to look into mine, "it's because I am trying to protect you."

I rolled my eyes and shrugged, crossing my arms again, "do you not...trust me...?" I asked him, "last night we...I just thought maybe we'd moved past secrets..." I huffed, mumbling more near the end of the sentence as I shook my head.

He squeezed my arms gently, bending down slightly to be more level with me.

"Fawn, I trust you just as much as I trust any person I'm close with...more so, even...what we shared last night will be something I keep close to my heart until the day I die and then some. Please don't underestimate my feelings for you, I promise that's not why I'm keeping this away from you...anything else you want to know, anything...I'll tell you. Just please stay away from that room..."

He was borderline begging me at this point, and guilt twisted up in my chest at his words.

I kept a pout on my lips, my eyes falling to his feet.

Then, momentarily the room was beaten out of my head by a question I deemed far more important to ask him.

First and foremost...I need to know how he really feels about me. About us.

"Al, what is this..." I said quietly, keeping my eyes down.

"What?"

A sigh pushed past my lips, my eyes closing for a few seconds before I opened them and raised them to his.

"This...what are we...?"

He froze, blinking at my question before his brows furrowed in confusion.

"I said you were mine, did I not? Is that not enough of an answer to your question? What would you like us to be?"

My face was steadily getting warmer, his words causing those feelings to flurry around my stomach and chest once more.

"I just want to be with you...I want us to be together..." I whispered, a bit embarrassed at my own confession.

As if he hasn't felt me from the inside out.

I guess I'm just still scared of what he might say. Of how he may feel of all this...if he wants something serious the way I do, or if he would prefer to stay friends.

His confused smile became warmer and he looked down at me with soft eyes.

A bit of my worry melted away when he brought his hands up to my face.

Then the rest of it disappeared the moment he brought his lips down to meet mine in a gentle kiss.

After a few seconds of that, he pulled away just slightly.

"Then together is what we shall be..." he whispered against my lips.

Finally, I smiled, the events with the door being slowly forgotten with each gentle kiss.

I guess if it's for my own good...I won't worry about it.

For now.